United States: Department Of Labor Publishes Final Rule To Raise Minimum Wage For Certain Federal Contractors And Subcontractors

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor issued final regulations on October 1, 2014 to implement Executive Order 13658, Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors.  President Obama signed the Executive Order on February 12, 2014.  The Executive Order raises the hourly minimum wage that covered contractors pay to workers performing work on covered federal contracts to $10.10 per hour, effective January 1, 2015.  Beginning January 1, 2016 and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Labor […]

By | October 31st, 2014 ||

United States: I Can't Work Saturday, I Am Working At A Food Drive That Was Organized By My Church…What's An Employer To Do?

It is no secret that controlling costs in today’s Automotive Industry is a must. Companies are employing smaller workforces to cut labor costs and are using real time ordering and supply to cut inventory surpluses and better manage supply costs. Consequently, companies are often scheduling their employees for work based on customer need, which can change dramatically by the day. For example, when demand is high employees are scheduled to work longer shifts, weekends, […]

By | October 31st, 2014 ||

Australia: What to do when a WHS Inspector comes knocking

Responding to a Work Health and Safety Inspector Visit
Visits to workplaces by work health and safety (WHS) inspectors are a necessary part of the enforcement regime of WHS regulators. They often occur in circumstances where organisations are under considerable time pressures, particularly following a workplace incident. A new Safe Work Australia report has found that regulators conducted 135,000 workplace visits and handed out nearly 47,000 notices in 2012 – 13. A visit from a […]

By | October 31st, 2014 ||